News Details

Gov. signs ethics reform bill, McConnaughay says more still needs to be done

6/8/2018

State Senator Karen McConnaughay (R-St. Charles) applauds the Governor for signing House Bill 138 today, which improves independence and transparency in the way legislative ethics complaints are handled in Illinois. McConnaughay notes that while this is a step in the right direction, more needs to be done to truly take on the unethical culture that plagues the Capitol.

“I commend the brave women who have already stepped forward and reported their personal experiences of harassment,” said McConnaughay. “To stand up against people with power and to challenge the long-time culture takes a lot of courage.

“It is my hope that House Bill 138 gives more people the confidence to come forward to share their stories of the inappropriate behavior that is all too common in Springfield. However, our work isn’t done. There are still several issues that this bill does not address, and I remain committed to working with my colleagues over the summer to address them.”

Some changes Senator McConnaughay hopes to see in future legislation include:

Changing the structure and composition of the Legislative Ethics Commission and making it more independent.

Increasing transparency by enhancing reporting requirements.

Increasing the overall accountability of the Legislative Ethics Commission.

McConnaughay notes that an independent and transparent investigative process is vital to ensuring that no one ever fears bringing forth evidence of harassment out of concern of personal or professional retaliation.

“The sickening behavior must end, and those involved in this kind of culture must be held accountable. It doesn’t matter if you’re a legislator, staffer, or a lobbyist, it’s clear that the majority of us who work in the Capitol have had enough and are standing up to ANYONE who conducts acts of inappropriate behavior.”